Copless loom



March 8, 1960 s. J. TWITCHELL COPLESS LOOM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1957 INVENTOR: SELDEN J. TWITCHELL B WW ATTYS.

March 8, 1960 SJ. TWITCHELL COPLESS -LOOM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1. 1957 INVENTOR: SELDEN J. TWITCHELL 5, WW

March 8, 1960 s. J. TWITCHELL 2,927,610

- COPLESS LOOM Filed April 1, 195'? :5 Sheets-Sheet 5 j FIG. E1.

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SELDEN J. TWITCHELL BY WW ATTYS.

COPLESS 1.08M

Application April 1,1957, Serial No. 649,673

13 Claims. (Cl. 139-126) This invention relates to looms of the copless shuttle type and a principal object of the invention is to provide a loom of this class of generally improved characteristics. One specific object of the invention is to provide a loom of the stated type having improved means for presenting the yarn ends from a spool or other bulk source to and for pick up by the shuttle.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a loom of the stated type, a shuttle having improved yarn pick-up devices and means for actuating said devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loom of the stated type having novel and generally improved mechanism for severing the yarn drawn from a bulk source after a predetermined length thereof has been drawn by the shuttle into the warp shed.

A still further object is to provide novel and eliective means for retaining the filler yarn, after being laid in the shed and severed from its source, in straight and taut condition preparatory and during the beating in operation by the lay.

The invention resides also in certain novel mechanical details hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of one end of a loom showing those parts of the loom which are immediately related to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the part of the loom illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the lay of the loom as viewed from the line 33, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 44, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 6-6, Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7, Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one end of the shuttle and the associated yarn guide means;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational and partial sectional view rates Patent 6 ice to project the shuttle, through the medium in the present instance of a plastic block 6 attached to the stick and projecting transversely into the box through a slot 7 in the side wall 8 of the latter and a registering slot 9 in the contiguous flange 11 of bracket 12 which supports the box in the lay. As shown in Fig. 2, the block 6 is guided by a rod 13, which rod also has at each end. a resilient pad 14 which absorbs the impacts of the picker stick in known manner.

In the inner end of each of the shuttle boxes 3 is the usual shuttle braking device operative to check the velocity of the shuttle as it enters the box. This device in cludes in the present instance a leaf spring 15 on an arm 16 pivoted at 17 between the top and bottom walls, 18 and 19 respectively of the box, and held resiliently into the path of the shuttle entering the box by a lever 21 which bears against the arm 16 and which is carried by a rod 22 biased by coil spring 23. Movement of the lever 21 away from the box is limited by a stop 24 on the frame of the lay.

In accordance with the present invention, the box 3 is provided with a yarn guide tube 25 which extends into i the back of the box and is held rigidly in place in'a clamping block 26, see Figs. 2 and 3. As shown in Fig. 11, the guide tube comprises a fixed element 27 having a sleeve 28 slidably fitted to its inner end and held'in place by a pin 29 on the element 27 which projects into a slot 31 on the sleeve. A spring 32 tends to retain the sleeve in the extended position shown in Fig. 11. but the sleeve is movable to the retracted position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 by action of a pin 33 on the shuttle which as the latter moves into the back of the box engages a lug 34 on the sleeve and pushes the sleeve back on the fixed section 27 against pressure of spring 32'. The function of the tube 25 is to guide filler yarns 35 from a spool 36 or other source for presentation to the shuttle and to a yarn severing device hereinafter described.

The shuttle has at each end a yarn clamp and pick up means consisting of a pivoted arm 37 and a rubber anvil 38 which constitute the respective jaws of the clamp. The arm pivot is indicated at 39 and moves on said pivot between an operative position, shown in Fig. 8-,

' and a retracted position indicated in broken lines in the of the shuttle and yarn guide means as illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detached view in perspective of one of the elements of the shuttle yarn clamping or gripping means;

Fig. 11 is a side and partial sectional view of the yarn guide device showing its relation to the yarn-shearing means forming a part of the loom structure, and

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the electrical control circuit for the yarn severing devices.

With reference to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 show those parts of one side of a loom with which the inven tion is immediately concerned. These same parts are duplicated at the opposite side of the loom but in reversed relative positions. 2

The reference numeral 1 identifies the lav which func tions in conventional manner and which carries the reed 2. At each end of the lay is a shuttle box 3 into and from which the shuttle 4 is projected in its travels throu h the shed. Opera ive v associated with e ch of t e bo es 3 is a picker stick 5 which functions in usual manner same figure. A spring 41 tends to retain the arm in each of said positions. When the shuttle enters the box the yarn clamp arm 37 at the then leading end of the shuttle is in retracted position, and is tripped to the operative position by engagement with a pin 42 which. projects downwardly into the top of the box 3 in the path of the retracted arm. The relative positions of the arm,37 in retracted position and the pin 42 is shown in broken lines in Fig. 8, the retracted position of the arm-being. dc? termined by a stop pin 43 on the shuttle. When the arm 37 is retracted the guide 25 presents the yarn end 35. to the space between the arm and the anvil 38 so that when the arm is subsequently trippedby pin 42 the said end will be gripped between the arm and the anvil as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. When the shuttle is proiected by the stick 5, the yarn is drawn from the spool into and through the shed of the warp yarns 40 and severed at the other side of the machine by means. hereinafter described.

The pin 42 is mounted in a bracket 44 at the top, of the box 3 as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The pin is secured in a block 45 adiustable transversely of the box and r ained in adiusted position by set screws 46 and 47. The pin may thus be accuratelv located and held relative to the path of the clamp arm 37 as it moves into the ox with the shuttle.

Th lav 1 ca r es at each end a vam severing unit design ted v nera v bv the reference numeral 48. This unit comprises a bracket 49 attached to the lay frame and supporting at its upper end a solenoid 51. The movable armature 52 of the solenoid extends upwardly and attaches to an arm 53 on the upper end of a plunger 54 guided for vertical-reciprocation in aguide 55. This guide is supported on the flange 11 of the lay as indicated at56 in Fig. 4. The plunger '54 has a cylindrical bore 57 in the lower end and the wall of the bore is slotted at 58 for reception of a pin 59 in the guide which acts to limit the extent of the movement of the plunger in the guide. A spring 51 is confined between the bottom of bore '57 and pin 59'and exerts resilient pressure tending to hold the plunger in elevated position as shown in Figs.'4 and '5. V

The plunger has attached to the side thereof and at the lower end a shear'comprising a fixed blade 62 and movable blade 6.3, the latter being pivotally mounted on apin 64 and being normally held away from the fixed blade by a coil spring 65, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A stop pin 66 determines the retracted position of the blade 63. When the plunger is forced downwardly by solenoid 51, the arm 67 of movable blade 63 meets a button '68 on bracket 49 and the blade is angularly displaced against spring 65 toward blade 62. The shearis located so that when so depressed and actuated it will intersect and sever the yarn which is then being withdrawn from the. spool v36at the proximate ,side of the loom and the action of the shear is timed with the movement of the shuttle to afford a pick of filler of required length. it will be understood that the shear unit shown in Figs. ,1 and 2 will beoperated only when the shuttle is approaching the opposite side of the lay. Fig. 2 shows the ends of the piclts71 which have, been cut by the unit 43 shown in the drawing, the picks occupying their final positions in the fabric 72. The other or alternate picks 73 have been drawn from the spool 36 at the other side ofthe loom and severed by the shear unit at that same side.

It was previously stated that when the shuttle is moving into the box 3 the yarn clamp arm'37 at the leading end of the shuttle is in the open position, as shown in Fig. 2. This arm is immediately closed to grip the yarn end presented to it by the proximate guide tube 25. At the same time in the approach of the shuttle to its box in this pass, the clamp arm 37 at the opposite end of the shuttle is in yarn gripping relation to its complementary '45 jaw 38. Thisalso is .shown'in Fig; 2 and the yarn gripped by these jaws is indicated by'the same reference numeral elevated, as shown in Fig. 1, the jaw clears the path of the shuttle. When lowered, the rubber lower edge 34 of the jaw seats against the bottom of the box. The jaw is normally held in elevated position by action of a spring d5 which forces armature 36 of solenoid 87 upwardly and, through link 88 and arm 89, rocks shaft 9 which is operativcly connected through arm 92 with the jaw. As shown in Fig. 1 the end of arm 92 is bifurcated for reception of a roller 93 set in the jaw so that elevation of the arm also elevates the jaw. When solenoid 87 is energized, the armature 86 is drawn downwardly to depress the jaw in obvious manner.

When the jaw is elevated, its upper end contacts and opens a switch 94. The function of this switch will be described below.

The jaw 81 is located so that it may anchor the ends 73 of yarn as they are released by the clamp arm 37 when the latter is retracted by pin'7 l as described above. The downward movement of the jaw 81 is timed to clear the end of the shuttle as it moves home in the box 3 and clamps the yarn end against the bottom of the box in a manner precluding displacement of the yarn or distortion from the normal straight line position before and during the'action of the lay. The clamping action of jaw 81 while firm and adequate for the purpose will still permit withdrawal of the yarn end by the lay as the yarn is movedforward into the fabric.

It will be understood the yarn end anchoring devices described above are duplicated at the opposite side of the loom and that the jaws 81 of the two devices operate simultaneously to grip and anchor both ends of thejiiller yarn as described.

Fig. 12 shows an electrical control system for the elements of apparatus described above including the shears 62, 63 and clampSl. In this diagram, the corresponding elementsat the opposite sides of the loom, being identical and similarly connected in the circuit, are identified'by the same reference numerals. The shear solenoids 51, 51 occupy parallel circuits each of which includes a normally open switch 95 or 96 respectively. The switches are closed by action of a cam 97 on a gear wheel 98 which is rotated in timed relation with the loom ope-rations and particularly to the shuttle movements so that each switch is actuated when the shuttle occupies a 73 which was used to indicate the alternate picks in the fabric 72. The arm 37 which holds this yarn must be opened at a point in the shuttle travel that will deposit the'yarn in proper position in the shed corresponding to'the positions of the'picks 71 and 73 described above. This actuation of the arm torelease the yarn is effected by a pin '74 corresponding to the pin 42 previously described and similarly adjustably mounted on the top wall 18 of the box 3 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein V the pin bracket is indicated by reference numeral 75 and the adjusting or anchoring screws by the numerals 76 and 77. As will be'apparent the pin 74 lies in the path of the arm 37 so'as to displace the arm to retracted position when yarn end 73 reaches the proper position for deposit in the shed.

The relation of the guide sleeve 28 to the clamp arm 3! and to the shear is shown in Figs. 8 and ll respectively. In each case the sleeve acts to hold the yarnin precise alignment with orjin close proximity to the elements which are to act upon the yarn end.

The invention contemplates also a means for holding each filler yarn when deposited in the shed and severed from its spool 36 in straight condition preparatory to and while being incorporated in the fabric by the lay. To this end I provide at each side of the loom a yarn clamp of which one is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. It consists o-f a jaw 81 which is slidably supported in vertical id ssz and- 83 at opposite sides respectively of the shuttle box 3 and at the inner end of the latter. When predetermined position in each pass. The gear is shown actuated by pinion 99; and 101 indicates the prime mover motor from which derive the movements of the several loom parts. The circuits of the solenoids 51, 51, and also the motor circuit, are under control of a solenoidactuated multi-pole switch 102. The power line from which the electrical energy is received is indicated by the reference numeral 163.

Actua ion of the clamps 81 is controlled by a rotary cam ldwhich rotates with gear 98. Cam 104 carries two lobes 1% and 106 which close switch 107 periodically. If either of two supplementary switches 108 and 199 is closed, the closing ofswitch 107 by cam 164 will energize both of the solenoids 87, 87 of clamps 81 and will thereby simultaneously depress the clamps to yarn gripping position. The switches'108 and 109 are shuttleactuated switches located in the shuttle boxes, as shown in Fig. 6, in position to be engaged and closed by an entering shuttle only after the latter has advanced to a point clearing the position of the clamp 81 so that th latter maymove to clamping position without interference with the shuttle Means is also provided for interrupting the operation 7 of the machine if the clamps 31 have not been elevated at the instant of pick when the shuttle is projected from either box. This device comprises a rotary cam 111 which rotates with gear 98 and which carries lobes 112 and 113 for simultaneous periodic actuation of switches 124 and 115 respectively. If series switches 94, 94 are open, as shown, which is the case only when the jaws $18. are elevated, the closing of the switches creates no change in .the circuit. if the switches 94, 94 are closed,

which occurs when the jaws 81 are depressed, solenoid 116 of switch 117 is energized, opening the switch and thereby de-energizing solenoid 118 of control switch 102. The latter switch then opens to interrupt the circuit of motor 101 and thereby to shut down the machine. This also de-energizes the circuits containing solenoids 51 and 87. The machine may be restarted after correction of the fault by closing starting switch 119 to energize solenoid 118 and to thereby close switch 102.

I claim:

1. In a loom of the copless type, a lay having a shuttle box at each side thereof, a shuttle, and means for projecting the shuttle from each said box to the other, a source of yarn at each side of the lay, a yarn severing means operatively associated with each of the boxes for severing sections of the yarn drawn from the proximate source by the shuttle, a stationary yarn guide member having an opening extending therethrough through which the yarn passes associated with each box with the forward end of each stationary member extending into each box into close proximity to the associated severing means so as to present the yarn from the proximate source for cutting to and by the latter, and a movable yarn guide member telescopically mounted on each stationary yarn guide member operable to be projected outwardly beyond said stationary guide member to engage and maintain the end of the yarn passing through the said stationary yarn guide member in a predetermined position, said movable yarn guide member operable to be engaged by said shuttle and moved thereby to a retracted position with the forward end thereof positioned forwardly of and closely adjacent to the forward end of its associated stationary yarn guide member to expose an extended length of yarn, yarn pickup means on each end of the shuttle, said yarn pickup means including a yarn engaging member pivotally mounted on the shuttle and operable upon movement of the movable yarn guide member to its retracted position to follow a predetermined path passing closely adjacent the forward end of said stationary yarn guide member to thereby engage the extended length of yarn projecting outwardly from the said stationary yarn guide member, and a clamping member on said shuttle operatively associated with said pickup member against which the yarn is clamped by said pickup member.

2. A loom according to claim 1 wherein resilient means is provided for normally retaining the movable yarn guide member in extended position in close proximity to the severing means, said movable yarn guide member being located in the path of and engageable by the shuttle so that when entering a box the shuttle acts to retract the movable yarn guide member and when subsequently leaving the box the shuttle releases the movable yarn guide member for return to the extended position.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided operable automatically at a predetermined point in the travel of the shuttle from each said box to the other, and while the shuttle is in flight for actuating said yarn severing means of the box from which the shuttle is moving to sever the yarn then attached to the shuttle, means for subsequently releasing the severing section of yarn from the shuttle to thereby deposit the yarn section in the path of the lay, and means for anchoring the yarn section thus deposited in position in said P 7 4. A loom according to claim 3 wherein the anchoring means includes a yarn clamp element for each end of the the path of the shuttle and behind the latter, and means for actuating the said elements in timed relation to the movements of the shuttle.

7. A loom according to claim 6 including means to prevent projection of the shuttle while the said elements occupy positions in said path.

8. A-loom according to claim 6 including control devices for the shuttle projecting means, and means responsive to the movements of the clamping elements into the path of the shuttle for actuating the said control devices to prevent actuation of the projecting means.

9. A loom according to claim 1 wherein the yarn severing means comprises shears, means for normally retaining the shears in a relatively retracted position in respect to the box, means for advancing the shears into the box, and means responsive to the advance movement of the shears for actuating the shears to sever the yarn.

10. A loom according to claim 9 wherein the retracting and advancing means for the shears comprise a spring operative to move the shears in one direction and a solenoid for moving the shears in the opposite direction, and means for intermittently operating the solenoid in predetermined time relation with the operations of the means for projecting the shuttle from each said box to the other.

11. In a loom of the copless type, a lay having a shuttle box at each side thereof, a shuttle, and means for projecting the shuttle from each said box to the other, yarn pick-up means on each end of the shuttle, said pick-up means comprising a relatively fixed jaw, a relative movable jaw, means pivotally mounting said movable jaw for pivotal swinging movement about a vertically extending axis between opposite limit positions, said movable jaw in one limit position thereof being in yarn clamping relation with the fixed jaw and in the other limit position thereof being retracted from said fixed jaw, a vertically extending yarn clamping member secured to said movable jaw operable to engage and clamp the yarn against said fixed jaw, resilient means tending to retain the movable jaw in each of said opposite limit positions, means in each box located in the path of the movable jaw at the trailing end of the shuttle when the said jaw is in yarn clamping position for engaging and retracting the jaw as the shuttle enters the box, means in each box located in the path of the movable jaw at the leading end of the shuttle when the said jaw is in retracted position for engaging and shifting the jaw to yarn gripping position during movement of the shuttle into the box, and yarn guide means for presenting a yarn end to the jaws to be gripped by the said shifting of the movable aw.

12. A loom according to claim 11 wherein the means for actuating the movable jaws comprises a pair of pins mounted in laterally offset relation in the box, and means for accurate adjustment of said pins in the box.

13. A loom according to claim 11 wherein the movable jaws are pivotally mounted in the shuttle, each jaw being restrained in the alternative positions by a single spring, the jaw in its movement from one position to the other passing through a dead-center position with respect to the spring and pivot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 214,506 Hunt Apr. 22, 1879 2,413,155 Rickelmann Dec. 24, 1946 2,648,354 Mascarenhas Aug. 11, 1953 2,770,261 Turner Nov. 13, 1956 2,785,701 Dunham Mar. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 434,322 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1935 

